Floating airborne wind energy system with submersible platform

ABSTRACT

The exemplary embodiments herein provide an airborne power generation assembly comprising an airborne power generation unit, a submersible platform, an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform, an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit, and a power output exiting from the submersible platform. Embodiments include an underwater docking station with a docking station tether connecting the submersible platform to the underwater docking station. The submersible platform or the underwater docking station may be anchored to the sea bed. Other embodiments include winches for the sea bed anchor tethers and docking station tether.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/880,273 filed on Jul. 30, 2019 which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments generally relate to airborne wind energy system, bothsingular units and farms, generally deployed in deep water off-shoreapplications.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

Wind energy has become an increasingly popular source for sustainableenergy, even in remote areas. Traditionally, wind energy has beenharnessed by farms of traditional wind turbines, with their familiartall towers and large rotating rotor blades dotting the landscape.However, the most desirable locations for wind farms are often locatedoff-shore, where the wind is strong and steady. However, once the waterdepth becomes too deep, it becomes economically unfeasible to build suchan enormous tower that would then have to be transported to theoff-shore location and attached to the sea bed.

SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments provide a floating airbone wind energy (FAWE)system with a submersible platform having a winch system connected tothe sea bed which allows the submersible platform to change its heightrelative to the sea bed (or the depth under the water surface that thesubmersible platform is located). By keeping the platform under thewater's surface, the system can attenuate many of the forces that can beapplied to the system due to rough waters or high winds or acombination. Also, the airborne unit which flies through the sky togenerate power can be docked atop the platform and then lowered beneaththe water's surface so that the airborne unit as well as the platformare safe from damage during severe weather. Once the severe weather haspassed, the winch system will allow the platform to raise again untilthe airborne unit is above the surface and ready for re-launch. In orderto launch/land the airborne device as well as provide flightcharacteristics, the electrified tether connecting between the platformand the airborne unit can be winched onto a winch that is attached to orwithin the platform. The airborne unit can also fly and generate powerwhile the platform (and sometimes even the perch for docking) can remainbelow the surface of the water.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following more detailed description of theparticular embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of an exemplary embodiment will be obtained froma reading of the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings wherein identical reference characters refer to identical partsand in which:

FIG. 1 is a front projection view of an exemplary embodiment of thefloating airborne wind energy system (FAWES) with a submersibleplatform, showing the location of Detail A and Detail B.

FIG. 2A is a detailed view of Detail A.

FIG. 2B is a detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A where theelectrified tether has been withdrawn and the airborne unit docked atopthe landing perch.

FIG. 2C is a detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A where thesubmersible platform and landing perch have been lowered (moved closerto the sea bed) until both are below the surface of the water.

FIG. 3 is a front projection view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 where thesubmersible platform and landing perch have been lowered (moved closerto the sea bed) until both are below the surface of the water, herewhile the airborne unit remains in the sky.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of Detail B, also showing the location ofDetail C.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of Detail C.

FIG. 6 is a simplified electrical block diagram for controlling theembodiments of the system shown in FIGS. 1-5 above.

FIG. 7 is a front projection view of an another exemplary embodiment ofthe floating airborne wind energy system (FAWES) with a submersibleplatform, underwater docking station and counter-weight, indicating thelocation of Detail D.

FIG. 8 is a front projection view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7,where the submersible platform including the airborne unit has beenlowered to engage with the underwater docking station.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of Detail D.

FIG. 10 is a front projection view of the embodiment in FIG. 7 where thesubmersible platform and landing perch have been lowered (moved closerto the sea bed) until both are below the surface of the water, herewhile the airborne unit remains in the sky, also indicating the locationfor Detail E.

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of Detail E, showing an optional submersibleplatform winch.

FIG. 12 is a force diagram representing two positions (A and B) for thesubmersible platform during the operation cycle of the airborne unit,here used with a dynamic control of the optional submersible platformwinch.

FIG. 13 is a notional graph of forces in the electrified tether for astatic platform vs. a dynamically controlled platform.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of ideal cross-sections for the submersibleplatforms based on the primary direction of motion of the platformthrough the water during a cycle of the airborne unit.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the preferred location for sea bed anchors andsubmersible platforms/underwater docking stations for a floatingairborne wind energy (FAWE) system using the various embodiments shownherein.

FIG. 16 is a simplified electrical block diagram for controlling theembodiments of the system shown in FIGS. 7-15 above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventionare shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplaryembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In thedrawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may beexaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference toillustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments(and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations fromthe shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, ofmanufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus,embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to theparticular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to includedeviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a front projection view of an exemplary embodiment of thefloating airborne wind energy (FAWE) system with a submersible platform100, showing the location of Detail A and Detail B. Generally speaking,the submersible platform 100 is anchored to the sea bed 200 (sea bedanchor point 115) using one or more sea bed tethers 110. The sea bedanchor points 115 can be any traditional method for attaching chains orcables to the sea bed (and the term ‘sea bed’ as used herein includeslake bottoms) which are generally large concrete blocks or anchors.Anchor points 115 can also be pylons driven into the sea bed. The seadepth (D) is generally represented as the distance between the sea bed200 and the water surface 210 in the area of the submersible platform100. A generally U-shaped landing perch 400 is preferably fixed abovethe floating platform 100 and is used for launching/landing the airbornepower generation unit 150 as well as stowing the entire airborne unit150 below the surface of the water 210 during severe weather.

FIG. 2A is a detailed view of Detail A. The airborne unit 150 isattached to the submersible platform 100 through the electrified tether300, which can be winched in/out of the platform 100 using theelectrified tether winch 425 so that the airborne unit 150 can bothlaunch/land as well as change altitude or other flight characteristics.The electrified tether winch 425 is preferably fixed within or above thesubmersible platform 100 and is in electrical communication with aplatform controller 101. Each of the sea bed tethers 110 are preferablyattached at a first end to the sea bed 200 with the second end beingattached to a sea bed tether winch 125 which can retract or pay out thetether 110. In some embodiments, as shown in this figure, each tether110 has its own separately controllable winch 125. However, otherembodiments could of course use a different number of tethers and couldalso combine the various tethers onto a single winch 125 so that only asingle winch could be used to retract or pay out the tethers 110.

As can be observed and will be described further below, by activatingthe winch(es) 125 and retracting the tether(s) 110 into the submersibleplatform 100, the submersible platform 100 will be lowered towards thesea bed 200 and away from the water surface 210. In the opposite,activating the winch(es) 125 and paying out the tether(s) 110 out of thesubmersible platform 100, the submersible platform 100 will be raisedaway from the sea bed 200 and towards from the water surface 210.

Generally speaking, the landing perch 400 and electrified tether winch425 are rigidly fixed above the submersible platform 100, it could alsobe said that they are rigidly fixed to the submersible platform 100.However, in an exemplary embodiment, a shock absorbing mechanism,preferably a heave-suppressing suspension 410 may be placed between theelectrified tether winch 425 and the submersible platform 100 to helpabsorb the forces between the airborne unit 150 and the submersibleplatform 100.

FIG. 2B is a detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A where theelectrified tether 300 has been withdrawn and the airborne unit 150docked atop the landing perch 400. In this embodiment, the landing perch400 has a general U-shape with a left vertical portion 475 and rightvertical portion 477 extending upwardly from a substantially horizontalconnecting portion 476 to create the general U shape. Additionally, aleft perch 480 is attached to the left vertical portion 475 and isgenerally perpendicular to the left vertical portion 475. Similarly, inthis embodiment, a right perch 481 is attached to the right verticalportion 477 and is generally perpendicular to the right vertical portion477. Both the left perch 480 and right perch 481 are preferablyhorizontal, but of course recognizing that their precise orientation isconstantly changing once installed into the water.

An aperture 420 is preferably placed near the center of the horizontalconnecting portion 476 and is sized to allow the electrified tether 300to pass through the aperture 420 as the tether 300 is retracted onto thewinch 425 or payed out from the winch 425 during launching/landing andflight operations. The orientation of the airborne unit 150 shown isgenerally the most desirable for launching/landing and stowingoperations. Here, this orientation can be described by positioning thepropellers and their motors 160 facing upwardly with the wing 190substantially horizontal and placed atop the left perch 480 and rightperch 481. Ideally, the wing 190 is substantially perpendicular to theleft perch 480 and right perch 481, but can vary slightly depending onconditions during launching/landing (high winds or rough water). Thefuselage 180 of the airborne unit 150 is generally parallel to the leftvertical portion 475 and right vertical portion 477 and is positionednear the center of the U-shape, preferably near equidistant from theleft vertical portion 475 and right vertical portion 477. Once into thedocked position as shown here, the airborne unit 150 may be serviced orleft in place for incoming severe weather.

FIG. 2C is a detailed view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A where thesubmersible platform 100 and landing perch 400 have been lowered (movedcloser to the sea bed) until both are below the surface of the water210. As the airborne unit 150 has been docked, it also travels closer tothe sea bed and then beneath the surface of the water 210. As describedabove, the activation of the winch(es) 125 will draw the tether(s) 110into the platform 100, thus causing the entire assembly to move towardsthe sea bed. When the winch(es) 125 pay out the tether(s) 110, theentire assembly moves towards the water surface 210. In the scenarioshown, the airborne unit 150 may be docked and then held under thesurface of the water 210 during a time of severe weather, such as roughwater or high winds. By storing the airborne unit 150 and othercomponents well beneath the water surface 210, damage to the componentscan be reduced or eliminated from this severe weather. Once the severeweather passes, the platform 100 may again raise until the perch 400 isabove water and the airborne unit 150 can be safely launched again.

FIG. 3 is a right side projection view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 wherethe submersible platform 100 and landing perch 400 have been lowered(moved closer to the sea bed 200) until both are below the surface ofthe water 210, here while the airborne unit 150 remains in the sky. Ithas been discovered that this orientation can reduce the reactive forcesbetween the platform 100 and the airborne unit 150 so that stresses onthe tether(s) 110, platform 100, electrified tether 300, and othercomponents can be minimized.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of Detail B, also showing the location ofDetail C. Here we see the electrified tether 300 connecting with theairborne unit 150 which is shown flying an example of a preferred flightpath. However, it should be noted that while a general figure eightshape is preferred, the precise parameters of the flight path and itsshape can change quite often, sometimes by the second depending on theconditions. This flight path was only provided as an example to thereader of the general art here, although other types of specific flightpaths could be used with the various embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of Detail C, showing an example of an airborneunit 150. In this embodiment, the airborne unit 150 generally resemblesa multi-propeller plane or drone with a wing 190 that is connectedgenerally perpendicular to a fuselage 180. Various portions of the wing190 and optionally the front of the fuselage 180 can be locations forpropellers and their motors 160. An airborne unit controller 155 is alsopreferably located on the airborne unit 150 and is used to control powersent to the propeller motors 160 to optimize various parameters andmaximize power efficiency and/or power generation given the weatherconditions. Again, while this design for the airborne unit and thisparticular number of propellers are shown here, this is only an example,as many other designs could be used with the exemplary embodimentsherein.

FIG. 6 is a simplified electrical block diagram for controlling theexemplary embodiments of the system. As noted above, the airborne unit150 preferably contains an on-board controller 155 which is inelectrical connection with the propeller motors. The electrified tether300 may comprise a plurality of different tethers or cables, someelectrified and some providing reinforcing strength only, which havebeen combined together. For example, one portion of the electrifiedtether 300 may be one or more low voltage signal cables which connect tothe controls 101 found on the submersible platform 100. Another portionof the electrified tether 300 may be one or more high voltage cableswhich connect from the power conditioning circuit in the airborne unit150 with a power conditioning circuit in the submersible platform 100.In some embodiments, the control signals between the controller 155 andthe controller 101 would not be wired but would instead be wireless, asindicated by the wireless transmitter/receivers 102 and 156 on thesubmersible platform 100 and airborne unit 150 respectively. Thewireless transmitter/receivers 102 and 156 could be wi-fi (any type),Bluetooth (any type), or satellite (any type) and could not onlycommunicate between controllers 101/155 but could also communicate withother outside controllers or sensors.

After the power conditioning circuit in the submersible platform 100,the outgoing power may be sent out, either directly to shore fortransmission into the grid or to an electrical substation that could beon shore or underwater and near the FAWE system or a farm of many FAWEsystems. The power output could also be sent to an energy storage systemsuch as battery storage or mechanical energy storage.

FIG. 7 is a front projection view of an another exemplary embodiment ofthe floating airborne wind energy system (FAWES) with a submersibleplatform 500, underwater docking station 501 and counter-weight 502,also indicating the location of Detail D. In this embodiment, anunderwater docking station 501 is attached to the sea bed with sea bedtethers 110 and an optional counterweight 502 is suspended from theunderwater docking station 501 by the counterweight tether 560. Thesubmersible platform 500 is preferably connected to the docking station501 using a docking station tether 550. While the docking station 501 isgenerally held at a fixed point from the sea bed, the submersibleplatform 500 is permitted to raise/lower itself relative to the sea bedby using a ballast pump, winch, or some combination as will be describedfurther below.

A landing perch 401 is again preferably fixed to the top portion of thesubmersible platform 500 and here shows the airborne unit 150 dockedatop the landing perch 401. In this figure, the submersible platform 500has risen to its highest point where it generally floats atop the watersurface 210.

FIG. 8 is a front projection view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7,where the submersible platform 500 including the airborne unit 150 hasbeen lowered to engage with the underwater docking station 501. Thesystem may be put into this position when severe weather is approaching,to protect the airborne unit 150 from damage. This could also be atemporary position for an airborne unit that is malfunctioning, in orderto hold the unit in a safe condition until repairs can be made.

In this embodiment, the submersible platform 500 has an upper portion510 which is generally cylindrical and has a mostly constant radius. Thesubmersible platform 500 then preferably has a lower portion 511extending below the upper portion 510 and having a radius that graduallydecreases as one moves downwardly. It could also be said that the lowerportion 511 generally has a conical shape. Also shown here is acorresponding female conical shape in the upper portion 520 of thedocking station 501, which accepts at least a portion of the maleconical shape in the lower portion 511 of the platform 500. Of course,it should be stated that any interfacing male/female shapes would workhere, and the general conical shape is not required for all embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of Detail D. Similar to the embodiments above,the airborne unit 150 can be winched towards/away from the platform 500using the electrified tether winch 425 so that the airborne unit 150 canboth launch/land as well as change altitude or other flightcharacteristics. The electrified tether winch 425 is preferably fixedwithin or above the submersible platform 500 and is in electricalcommunication with a platform controller 101.

In this embodiment, the landing perch 401 is primarily comprised of apair of arms 701 which extend upwardly and away from each other toprovide an attachment point for the landing bar 700. In this way, thelanding bar 700 is substantially horizontal and elevated verticallyabove the platform 500, fixed to the highest vertical points on the arms701. The landing bar 700 is preferably somewhat flexible, so that it canabsorb some of the forces of launching/landing without translating theseto the airborne unit 150. Preferably when launching/landing thepropellers 160 are oriented upwardly and on the opposing side of theairborne unit 150 as the landing bar 700.

Also in this embodiment, a ballast pump 800 may be used to pump waterin/out of the submersible platform 500 in order to raise/lower theplatform 500 relative to the sea bed. Again the preferred conical shapefor the lower portion 511 of the platform 500 is shown extending belowthe upper portion 510 which has a more cylindrical shape but again thisis not required but has been found to be preferable.

It should be noted that the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6 could alsoutilize the ballast pump 800 as described herein to help raise/lower andtemporarily fix the underwater height of the submersible platform 100.

FIG. 10 is a front projection view of the embodiment in FIG. 7 where thesubmersible platform 500 and landing perch 410 have been lowered (movedcloser to the sea bed) until both are below the surface of the water210, here while the airborne unit 150 remains in the sky, alsoindicating the location for Detail E. This position would be thepreferred position of the submersible platform 500 for power generation,where the platform 500 and electrified tether winch 425 are located farenough below the water surface 210 to ensure that the platform 500 willremain underwater even during the trough of the largest expected wavebut not so deep that drag on the electrified tether 300 becomessignificant. In other words, the submersible platform 500 should only beheld deep enough to ensure force stability on the platform 500 and thatit remains below water even during the largest expected wave. Using theexemplary embodiments herein, electronic communications through thetransmitter/receiver 102 would allow the controller 101 to direct theballast pump 800 to increase/decrease water in the submersible platform500 to ensure that the depth of the platform 500 could be changed due tochanging environmental conditions (i.e. large waves or a storm).

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of Detail E, showing an optional submersibleplatform winch 580 for reeling in or paying out the docking stationtether 550. As mentioned above, the distance between the platform 500and docking station 501 can be controlled by a combination of theballast pump 800 as well as a submersible platform winch 580, or by theballast pump 800 alone, or by the winch 580 alone. In a preferredembodiment, the position of the platform 500 would be controlled by acombination of the two. The docking station tether 550 could be a cable,wire-rope, chain, or some combination.

FIG. 12 is a force diagram representing two positions (A and B) for thesubmersible platform 100/500 during the operation cycle of the airborneunit 150, here used with a dynamic control of the optional submersibleplatform winch 580. Here, it has been discovered that varying the lengthof the docking station tether 550 by the winch 580 during the operationof the airborne unit 150 can smooth out the forces in the tether 550that are applied to the platform 500. This reduces overall forces in thesystem and shock that is applied to the platform 500 and its components.In an exemplary embodiment, the controls 155 of the airborne unit 150would communicate with the controls 101 of the submersible platform sothat the winch 580 could adjust between Length A and Length B at theappropriate time(s).

A similar force attenuation effect may be obtained without activecontrol of docking station tether length 550 by recognizing thatPosition A has stored energy from airborne unit 150 due to the increaseddepth of platform 100/500 relative to Position B of platform 100/500.This energy may be returned to airborne unit 150 during the lessenergetic portion of the cycle, specifically by increasing the apparentwind velocity experienced by airborne unit 150 at position B. Thecontrol of the combination of buoyancy and mass of platform 100/500(with pump 800) and optional docking station tether length 550 (withoptional winch 580) can help optimize forces in the system or poweroutput by the system, and these values may preferably be variedaccording to the control parameters of airborne unit 150. Also of noteis that the tether fastening docking platform 100/500 to ground may beone or more tethers connecting to either a docking station 501 or to thesea bed directly.

FIG. 13 is a notional graph of forces in the electrified tether 300 fora static platform 100/500 vs. a dynamically controlled platform 100/500as described above.

FIG. 14 is an illustration of ideal cross-sections for the submersibleplatforms based on the primary direction of motion of the platformthrough the water during a cycle of the airborne unit. As shown, apreferable cross-section for the submersible platforms 100/500 wouldhave an elliptical shape, but anything where the platform cross-sectionhas been faired so that the platform has lower drag through thepredominant direction of motion. In some embodiments, a turbine could beused to harvest this excess energy.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the preferred location for sea bed anchors 115and submersible platforms 100/underwater docking stations 501 for afloating airborne wind energy (FAWE) system using the variousembodiments shown herein. As shown, the sea bed anchors 115 could beshared between two or more adjacent submersible platforms 100/underwaterdocking stations 501. In the embodiment shown, the submersible platforms100/underwater docking stations 501 would be placed in a hexagonalpattern around a central sea bed anchor 115.

FIG. 16 is a simplified electrical block diagram for controlling theembodiments of the system shown in FIGS. 7-15 above. Here, thesubmersible platform 500 preferably contains an electronic controller101 in electronic communication with the ballast pump 800, electrifiedtether winch 425, and the optional docking station tether winch 580.Similar to the embodiment in FIG. 6, the controls 155 of the airborneunit 150 may communicate with the controls 101 of the submersibleplatform 100 either through a hard wired connection in the electrifiedtether 300 or through wireless communication through wirelesstransmitter/receivers 102 and 156.

It should be noted that while the water surface 210 has been usedthroughout to describe the relative location of the submersible units,it is well understood that the water surface 210 is generally notstationary and will move with the swell of the ocean/lake, wind, and/orlarge waves. Thus, as understood herein, the water surface 210represents the mean water line or average between the highest/lowestswells for the given conditions which can change as the conditionschange. It is thus a dynamic point that is difficult to pin down but“water surface” has been used herein for the convenience of the readerto help explain the advantageous of the invention.

As used herein, the term “controls” is used to represent an electroniccontroller capable of executing software instructions for performing anyof the features described herein. In some cases the controls aremicrocontrollers, microprocessors, or CPU/RAM combination.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention,those skilled in the art will realize that many variations andmodifications may be made to affect the described invention and still bewithin the scope of the claimed invention. Additionally, many of theelements indicated above may be altered or replaced by differentelements which will provide the same result and fall within the spiritof the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit theinvention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.

We claim:
 1. An airborne power generation assembly comprising: anairborne power generation unit; a submersible platform; an electrifiedtether winch attached to the submersible platform; an electrified tetherconnecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne powergeneration unit; an underwater docking station positioned beneath thesubmersible platform; at least one sea bed tether connecting theunderwater docking station to the sea bed; a docking station tetherconnecting the floating platform to the underwater docking station; anda power output exiting from the submersible platform.
 2. The airbornepower generation assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a landing perchextending above the submersible platform.
 3. The airborne powergeneration assembly of claim 2 wherein: the landing perch is generallyU-shaped.
 4. The airborne power generation assembly of claim 2 whereinthe landing perch contains a substantially horizontal portion foraccepting the airborne power generation unit.
 5. The airborne powergeneration assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a sea bed tetherwinch attached to the submersible platform; and a sea bed tether adaptedat a first end for attachment to the sea bed and adapted at a second endfor attachment to the sea bed tether winch.
 6. The airborne powergeneration assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a first electroniccontroller positioned on the submersible platform; a second electroniccontroller positioned on the airborne power generation unit; and whereinthe first and second controller communicate electronically to controlthe electrified tether winch.
 7. The airborne power generation assemblyof claim 1 further comprising: a counterweight suspended from theunderwater docking station.
 8. The airborne power generation assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising: a submersible platform winch attached to thedocking station tether.
 9. The airborne power generation assembly ofclaim 1 further comprising: a ballast pump attached to the submersibleplatform.
 10. The airborne power generation assembly of claim 1 furthercomprising: a female portion on the underwater docking station whichaccepts a male portion on the submersible platform.
 11. The airbornepower generation assembly of claim 8 wherein the submersible platformwinch is controlled by electrical signals from the airborne powergeneration unit.
 12. An airborne power generation assembly comprising:an airborne power generation unit; a submersible platform; anelectrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform; anelectrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch andthe airborne power generation unit; at least one sea bed tetherconnecting the submersible platform to the sea bed; an underwaterdocking station positioned beneath the submersible platform; a landingperch extending above the submersible platform.
 13. The airborne powergeneration assembly of claim 12 further comprising: a sea bed tetherwinch positioned on the submersible platform and connected to each seabed tether.
 14. The airborne power generation assembly of claim 12further comprising: an aperture in the landing perch for allowing theelectrified tether to pass through the landing perch.
 15. The airbornepower generation assembly of claim 12 further comprising: a shockabsorbing mechanism positioned on the submersible platform and placedbeneath the landing perch.
 16. An airborne power generation assemblycomprising: an airborne power generation unit; a submersible platform;an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform; anelectrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch andthe airborne power generation unit; an underwater docking stationpositioned beneath the submersible platform; at least one sea bed tetherconnecting the underwater docking station to the sea bed; and a dockingstation tether connecting the floating platform to the underwaterdocking station.
 17. The airborne power generation assembly of claim 16further comprising: an upper portion on the underwater docking stationwhich accepts a lower portion on the submersible platform.
 18. Theairborne power generation assembly of claim 17 further comprising: aperch positioned above the submersible platform.
 19. The airborne powergeneration assembly of claim 16 further comprising: a submersibleplatform winch attached to the docking station tether which iscontrolled by electrical signals from the airborne power generationunit.